Spybot Search & Destroy

From UCanWiki

Spybot Search and Destroy is a program which removes spyware from your computer. Spyware is a type of program that watches what you do with your computer and then sends that information over the internet, without asking your permission. For example, a spyware program might monitor which websites you visit, and then use this information to display adverts for websites or products which it thinks you might visit of buy.

Unlike a computer virus, a spyware program will not set out to damage your computer. However, if you have a lot of spyware running on your computer it will slow down, often to the point where it is difficult to use.

Basic Usage Instructions

Follow these instructions to make Spybot S&D remove spyware from your computer. There are three stages you need to carry out. The first of these is to connect with the central Spybot S&D computer to get the most up-to-date list of spyware. New spyware programs are released all the time, so making sure your copy of Spybot S&D knows which spyware to look for is essential. The second step is to make spyware scan your computer for spyware. The third step is to "immunise" your computer against future spyware infection. The following instructions cover all three of these steps.

Please note that removing some spyware programs requires Spybot S&D to restart your computer. If Spybot S&D asks for your permission to restart your computer then allow it to do so, and start following these instructions again once your computer has restarted.

1. Open the "Spybot S&D" program.

2. Click the "Search for Updates" button. This will open the "Update" screen. A small window will appear titled "Update progress".

3. After a little while one of two things will happen. If a small window pops up saying "No newer updates are available" then you do not need to update Spybot S&D, and can click "OK" and skip to step 5 in these instructions. Otherwise you will be presented with a list of updates which Spybot S&D needs to download. The left hand column of this list is made up of little black squares. Right-click on one of these squares and then click "Select All"; this places a "tick" in every square. This will ensure Spybot S&D downloads every update it needs.

4. Once every square has been ticked, click "Download Updates". A small window will appear titled "Update progress" will appear; the blue bar at the bottom of this window moves from left to right as the updates are downloaded. As each update is downloaded the boxes you ticked in step 3 are replaced with green ticks.

(4b. Occasionally you may find that after Spybot has been updated, it will restart. This is not a problem - just continue from step 5)

5. When all of the updates have been downloaded, click on the "Search & Destroy" icon in the top left of the window. Then click "check for problems". After a little while a blue bar starts running along the bottom of the screen to show you the progress Spybot S&D has made in checking for spyware.

6. Once the blue bar has moved from left to right along the bottom of the screen it disappears, and you are presented with a list of the spyware Spybot S&D has found. Click on "Fix selected problems" and then click "Yes" in the "Confirmation" box that pops up. When Spybot S&D has finished removing the spyware it has found a further "Confirmation" box will pop up: click "OK" to close this.

7. Now for the final step: click "Immunize" in the left-hand column (the blue and white shield icon). Spybot S&D will check to see what immunisations are necessary. Click "OK" in the "Warning" box that pops up, and then click "Immunize" towards the top of the screen (the green cross icon). A blue bar will run quickly from left to right across the middle of the screen.

8. That's it: you're finished! Close Spybot S&D by click in the cross in the top right of the window.